So of course Europeans are beginning to make noises about how the world simply has to appease Hamas and flood the Gaza Strip with money and resources. And of course a lot of those noises have to do with how AQ simply just can't be in the Gaza Strip and - if they are - they simply just can't have any ties to Hamas. And of course that's totally wrong:
One of [AQ's] affiliates carries the name Jaish al-Islam... established chiefly by splinter groups from the Popular Resistance Committees and from Hamas... Abu Ashur, the right-hand man of Jaish al-Islam leader Mumtaz Durmush, confessed that their organization received funds and instructions from al-Qaeda outside of the Gaza Strip. He added that when they were formed, they were reinforced by "the Afghans" - Arabs who had combat experience in Afghanistan. Jaish al-Islam cooperated with Hamas in a number of terrorist attacks, the most notable of which was the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit (June 2006). Jaish al-Islam, alone, was responsible for the kidnapping of BBC journalist Alan Johnston (March 2007). Leading the cell that abducted Johnston was Khattab al-Maqdasi, a Palestinian who in the past had fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan.3 Hamas... pressured Jaish al-Islam to let Johnston go by means of an agreement which recognized it as a legitimate organization in the Palestinian system and by the supply of funds and ammunition from Hamas.
A secular and democratic Palestinian state is just around the corner. All they need is a little tender loving care. Also: money and weapons.
References:
* Middle Israel: Europe's Islamic dissonance [JPost]
* "The Army of the Nation" - Another Al-Qaeda Affiliate in the Gaza Strip [JCPA]
Previously:
* AQ Complains That Hamas Is Not Insane Enough
* NBC Beirut Chief: AQ Fighters Making "Alamo-like last stand"
* Hamas: AQ Not In Gaza. Abbas, AQ Kidnapping Victim Alan Johnston: Yes They Are
